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Queen Beatrix: 33 years of Dutch reign

Dutch King Willem-Alexander, right, kisses his mother Dutch Princess Beatrix, centre, as Dutch Queen Maxima, left, looks at the well wishers in the crowd after the signing of the Act of Abdication at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April 30, 2013.

Credit: AP/Jeroen van der Meyde

Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, right, and Princess Beatrix appear on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April 30, 2013.

Credit: AP/Daniel Ochoa de Olza

Dutch Queen Beatrix is handed the Act of Abdication which, when signed will ends her reign as Monarch in the Mozeszaal or Mozes hall of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April 30, 2013.

Credit: AP/Bart Maat

Dutch Queen Beatrix announced Monday that she will abdicate on April 30 after 33 years as head of state, clearing the way for her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, to become the nation's first king in more than a century.

Here, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands delivers a speech from the throne in the Ridderzaal in The Hague on September 18, 2012 on Prince's Day (Prinsjesdag), the presentation of the coming financial year.

Credit: LEX VAN LIESHOUT/AFP/GettyImages

Observers believe she remained on the throne for so long in part because of unrest in Dutch society as the country struggled to assimilate more and more immigrants, mainly Muslims from North Africa, and shifted away from its traditional reputation as one of the world's most tolerant nations.

Prince Claus, the German-born husband of Dutch Queen Beatrix, is seen in this photo of April 30, 1980 in the New Church in Amsterdam during the formal inauguration ceremony of Queen Beatrix, left. Prince Claus died on Sunday Oct. 6, 2002 at age 76.

Credit: AP Photo/ Heinz Ducklau

The announcement comes just days before Beatrix's birthday, and she is already the oldest ever Dutch monarch: the pragmatic Dutch do not see being king or queen as a job for life. The nation also celebrates the 200th anniversary of its monarchy, the House of Orange, at the end of this year, Beatrix said.

Pictured here is then-Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus leaving the Savoy Hotel in London Various Dutch Royals on June 15, 1968.

Credit: Rex Features via AP Images

In this July 25, 1968 file photo, Netherlands' Queen Beatrix, and her husband Prince Claus pose with their 15-month-old son Prince Willem Alexander in front of the Royal family's summer villa in Porto Ercole, Italy.

Credit: AP Photo/Mario Torrisi

The abdication also comes at a time of trial for Beatrix. This time a year ago she was struck by personal tragedy when the second of her three sons, Prince Friso, was left in a coma after being engulfed by an avalanche while skiing in Austria.

In this photo taken Dec. 22, 1981 from left: Prince Claus, Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince Johan Friso and Prince Constantijn, pose for a photo during a winter vacation in Lech, Austria.

Credit: AP Photo

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, flashes a broad smile as she stands next to German President Richard von Weizsaecker, waving to citizens who came to meet her in Guestrow, former east Germany, Friday April 26, 1991.

Credit: AP Photo

Dutch Queen Beatrix, left, talks with South African President Nelson Mandela Monday, September 30, 1996 in Pretoria after an arrivals ceremony. Queen Beatrix was the first ever member of the Dutch Royal Family to visit South Africa.

Credit: AP Photo / Denis Farrell

Here, the queen walks towards a stage as ticker tape rains down during festivities marking Queen's Day in Veenendaal, central Netherlands, Monday, April 30, 2012. The Dutch celebrate Queen's Day, a Dutch national holiday marking the birthday of the Queen's mother.

Credit: ROBIN UTRECHT/AP Photo

Dutch Queen Beatrix writes on the cast of a boy during festivities marking Queen's Day in Rhenen, central Netherlands, Monday April 30, 2012. The Dutch celebrate Queen's Day, a Dutch national holiday marking the birthday of the Queen's mother.

Credit: Frank van Beek

Queen Beatrix, left, of the Netherlands and her daughter-in-law Princess Mabel leave the hotel where the Dutch Royal family are staying in Lech, western Austria, Sunday, Feb 19, 2012, two days after the Queen's second son Prince Johan Friso was rushed to the intensive care unit of Innsbruck's main hospital after he was buried by an avalanche. Princess Mabel carries a durable water bottle.

Credit: AP Photo/Felix Kaestle

Dutch Queen Beatrix and her daughter in-law Princess Mabel, right, leave the hospital in Innsbruck, western Austria, Saturday, Feb 18, 2012, the day after Beatrix 2nd son, Prince Johan Friso, was rushed to the intensive care unit of Innsbruck's main hospital after he was buried by an avalanche.

Credit: AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and German Federal President Joachim Gauck attend a festive event 'Europe builds bridges in the Middle East' in Duesseldorf, western Germany, on December 16, 2012.

Credit: HENNING KAISER/AFP/Getty Images

Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands christens the Pilot Ship 'Polaris' on October 10, 2012 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Credit: Michel Porro/Getty Images

Dutch Queen Beatrix (C) and Prince Willem-Alexander attend the Koninkrijksconcert (Kingdom Concert), in Rotterdam, on December 15, 2012. The concert is annually held on December 15, to celebrate the relationship between Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba.

Credit: AFP/FRANK VAN BEEK

Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands christens the Pilot Ship 'Polaris' on October 10, 2012 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Credit: Getty Images/Michel Porro

Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands christens the Pilot Ship 'Polaris' on October 10, 2012 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Credit: Getty Images/Michel Porro

Queen Beatrix and Crown Prince Willem Alexander of The Netherlands wave from the Noordeinde Palace balcony after attending Budget Day announcement on September 18, 2012 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Credit: Getty Images/Michel Porro

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima of The Netherlands ride in the Golden Chariot after attending Budget Day announcement on September 18, 2012 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Credit: Getty Images/Michel Porro

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Princess Maxima of The Netherlands attend the Budget Day announcement on September 18, 2012 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Credit: Getty Images/Michel Porro

The president of Mali Amadou Toumani Toure is welcomed by Queen Beatrix at the Palace Noordeinde in The Hague on November 29, 2011.

A picture taken on November 5, 2011 shows Netherlands' Queen Beatrix (L) visiting an old-people's home on Saba island. Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima were on a ten-day visit to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of Netherlands. AFP PHOTO / ANP / ROBIN UTRECHT

Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, center, his wife Queen Silvia, left, and Netherlands' Queen Beatrix, right, propose a toast during a state banquet at Royal Palace Noordeinde in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday April 21, 2009. King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia were in the Netherlands for a three-day official state visit.